ElectriCity partnership hails successful first year in Gothenburg

326515 Jul 2016International

After one year of electric bus service on route 55 in Gothenburg, Volvo says that its expectations have been surpassed by a wide margin. The buses and bus stops have received a high rating by passengers and drivers, and the technology worked very dependably, according to the manufacturer.

Over the past year the service has carried around 1.2 million passengers and Ericsson has now joined the ElectriCity partnership which delivers the project.

Electric buses started service on route 55 in Gothenburg in June 2015 and today the route between Chalmers and Lindholmen carries an average of 100,000 passengers a month. Surveys conducted by the ElectriCity partners reveal that both passengers and drivers appreciate the new electric bus route and that the vehicles, charging infrastructure and bus stops more than meet the highest expectations.

The fact that the buses run on renewable electricity is regarded favourably, and the bus stops at Chalmersplatsen and Teknikgatan are rated very highly, according to public transport authority Västtrafik. About 80 per cent of passengers appreciate free wi-fi on board, and 93 per cent report that the low onboard noise level is a major benefit.

Surveys carried out by bus operator Keolis show that bus drivers also welcome the low noise level as one of the biggest advantages of electric power, both because it contributes to a better working environment and because it is appreciated by the passengers. The fact that the buses are equipped with zone management which automatically limits speed in certain areas is regarded as positive as a boost to safety.

“These excellent results show that the technology for electrified bus operations is ripe for more broad-based introduction,” says Niklas Gustafsson, chief sustainability officer, Volvo Group. “Electric power offers new possibilities for cities to transition public transport in a sustainable direction, promoting safer traffic and a healthier environment with less noise and better air quality.”